Turkey Talk for 2014

[audiomilk]

Just thought I'd pop in and say hi. I'm from Dixon's Desired Eggs (find us on Facebook and Pinterest). We've been doing chickens for a while along with a few ducks and geese. Well we decided to get a few white turkeys (although I faced no clue to which exact breed) from Atwood's; are there any great resources online I can resort to for more information on this interesting bird? Any and all info would be greatly appreciated.

 

[chickadoodles]

The babies are getting big fast! She has been a good Momma especially it being her first time.







This little one has me puzzled. It hatched a few days ago and was set under a different broody turkey hen about the same time these were set. The other Momma is brooding in a crate with 3 chicken hens which means I have to crawl into the crate with a broody turkey and 3 broody chickens. I fear for my life each time I have to do this! LOL I was going to pitch the eggs this past weekend when I was cleaning the barn but totally forgot because I was sure these were way overdue. I came home from work on Tuesday and found this little one under a silkie Momma that was in with her. Thank goodness I didn't throw the eggs away!

Your Narri is very pretty and she has some beautiful poults. Good thing you forgot the eggs long enough to find this little one. lol

 

[sonderah]

My turkey hens clutch is due to hatch today! I haven't been able to check under her since day b4 yesterday, so who knows, she may have babies! I have a back injury so cannot get out there, but have been having my 13 yr old look frequently to be sure no babies have fallen out or anything, just don't want her inside the cage, looking under the hen without supervision. That could be a mess! Lol

 

[MamaKitty913]

1: Completely with out any clue for Turkey 2014 experience.
2: Do they only lay eggs once a year?
3: skipping because IDK what breed they are.
4: 3 Females 0 males

Skipping to 11: I feed my chickens fermented feed I can feed turkeys similar but do they eat same kind of feed? HELP!!!!!
12: No What they currently have I would not put my chickens in and I need to build them something better but I don't even know if they roost. How wide the roosts need to be and how much they weigh. any advise would be appreciated
13: My husband promised her we would not butcher the birds as they were her pets I think they are about a year old and I do not know if they would be good or not but I would like to get them healthy first.
14: Normally I am a infogeek and I read as much as I can before getting an animal I have never raised but my husband was asked by the neighbor who is moving to assisted living to care for these birds and made him promise they would not be eaten. I felt like that was un fair - first to pawn off your birds because you can't keep them and then to make that person promise to raise them like pets. She would be forced to abandon them otherwise and my husband is a kind considerate person - I would hope that I am too but when we first moved here this same old lady had dozens of cats and kittens everywhere - When she could not feed them they migrated to my house and ate my pullets and even the chick feed. It has taken me years to get the strays fixed and I believe it is irresponsible to cause problems and leave it to others to fix it. We have been raising - now that they are all fixed 10 outdoor cats and 6 indoor cats. That is a lot of cats. I have caught and released 20 other cats which were fixed so after 6 years I think we finally have fixed the kitten issue. Many of the kittens were sick and had mites eye issues so I am more immune i think to tearful pleading since I am not independently wealthy and try not to make promises that I cannot keep.
Caroline

Caroline, I totally agree that it is irresponsible to leave it to others to spay and neuter the cats and dogs that we own. That being said I also want to say THANK YOU, THANK YOU< THANK YOU. I have a beware of dog sign and I also need a sign that says "If your animal comes on my property, I will fix it" We have done 73 animals that "didn't belong" to us in the last 5 years! I think alot of flock keepers would be surprised that most dogs won't come back if you take them to the vet leaving their balls behind! Cats do eat chicken feed, I'll try to get some pictures we have one who leaves the chickens alone, but loves their feed!

Go figure! Any way.... Thank you.

 

[SilkieSensation]

Kitty: I have a crazy tom cat who was literally raised in the brooder next to my chick brooder. He would never touch any of "momma's birdies" & spent most of this past winter sleeping a bit too close to 1 of my brooder lamps in the garage. His singed fur has finally grown back in & he can often be found climbing the fence into the run to scarf down scraps & fermented feed along side my chickens, ducks & turkeys. He gets some rather dirty looks from the birds for stealing their food but otherwise they are all so used to each other that they just ignore each other & enjoy the feast.

 

[racinchickins]

My turkey hens clutch is due to hatch today! I haven't been able to check under her since day b4 yesterday, so who knows, she may have babies! I have a back injury so cannot get out there, but have been having my 13 yr old look frequently to be sure no babies have fallen out or anything, just don't want her inside the cage, looking under the hen without supervision. That could be a mess! Lol

Even if they have already hatched, it may be several days before you see anything. I saw empty eggshells (from hatched poults) three days before I actually saw a poult. The hens kept them out of sight for quite a while. I was actually worried they had gotten stepped on after hatch, but they are doing great now.

 

[rjoschko]

I have one question. When you set eggs do you count the day you set them as day one? I am going to be setting some turkey eggs, never tried turkeys before. I'm getting 24 Beltsville White eggs. Info will be greatly appreciated.

Rick

 

[SilkieSensation]

I have one question.  When you set eggs do you count the day you set them as day one?  I am going to be setting some turkey eggs, never tried turkeys before.  I'm getting 24 Beltsville White eggs.  Info will be greatly appreciated.

Rick

If you set on Wed count forward 4 weeks to Wed & that is when they are due. Whatever day you set on they are due the same day 4 weeks later.

 

[sonderah]

Even if they have already hatched, it may be several days before you see anything.  I saw empty eggshells (from hatched poults) three days before I actually saw a poult.  The hens kept them out of sight for quite a while. I was actually worried they had gotten stepped on after hatch, but they are doing great now.

Oh I know. I just worry about 1 falling out of the nest and freezing to death or something. The brooder she is in wasn't set up for that, it was set up as a quarantine cage for new birds, so not the best choice for brooding. I put a 2x4 infront of the door the other day to make it a little more difficult for a baby to climb out before she is ready.
I did manage to get out there earlier. Walking on a cane is EXHAUSTING! Lol I can't get down to look under her, but I did hear little peeping in there! Sounded like a chicken chick, so idk if any poults have hatched yet. She has both. The turkey eggs were in the bator for a week, then gave her a combined clutch.

 

[Sydney Acres]

My turkey hens clutch is due to hatch today! I haven't been able to check under her since day b4 yesterday, so who knows, she may have babies! I have a back injury so cannot get out there, but have been having my 13 yr old look frequently to be sure no babies have fallen out or anything, just don't want her inside the cage, looking under the hen without supervision. That could be a mess! Lol

I hope you heal up fast. Take care of yourself. Thank goodness you have the 13 year old to help you out and feed/water the birds. Good luck.